Device for selectively parting strands of hair

ABSTRACT

A device for selectively parting strands of hair is provided. The parting device may have an annular body dimensioned and adapted to removably receive and secure a tip of a human wearer. A strand arm extends from the annular body parallel to its longitudinal axis. The strand arm tapers to a rounded distal end so that a user wearing the parting device on their fingertip can manipulate and engage strands of hair with the strand arm during various hair treatment processes requiring selectively parting single strands of hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair treatment devices and, moreparticularly, to a device worn on the finger of a user for selectivelyparting strands of hair for facilitating the insertion of single strandhair extensions.

A strand of human hair can range from 17 to 181 μm (millionths of ameter). Hair extension placement often requires hundreds of repetitionsof picking up and putting down a comb to take a single strand of hair toplace the extension thereon, which consumes time and energy, and isuncomfortable for both the stylist and recipient.

The current device used is a tip of a comb or a rat-tail comb that hasto be put down and picked back up between usages, meaning it can fall,be misplaced, or be out of reach, as well as be difficult to grip andawkward to use. Furthermore, the use of a comb is not effective becausethis repetition causes fidgeting while grabbing the comb and properlyplacing in the hand of the stylist. Such current devices cause thestylist to also use poor ergonomics as they must bend, lift and reachback and forth with the comb, straining their back, neck, shoulderswrists and arms. Moreover, during the lengthy hair extension process,customers can grow inpatient and stop getting extensions, which is lessprofit for the stylist and company.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device worn on the finger of auser for selectively parting strands of hair for facilitating theinsertion of single strand hair extensions. Such a ring-like deviceenables a hair-parting process that is smoother, faster, more efficientand comfortable for both the recipient and the stylist because the userskips the step of picking up and putting down a comb, allowing thestylist to stay in one position and continuously place extensions. Thetool allows for more accuracy and precision, resulting in cleaner,better looking results. The customer is happy because she saves timewhen this tool is utilized-up to approximately 20-30%, or severalhours—off the extension application process, which can take as long as10-12 hours on a full head of hair with a rat tail comb. The salon ishappy because they see more clients and more clients equals more money.

In use, the present invention remains comfortably on a user's fingertipto part hair, essentially allowing the finger to act as a comb. Thisalso helps with ergonomics, as stylist do not have to bend, lift or pickup the comb, and so sparing back, neck arm, shoulder and wrist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device worn on the finger of auser for selectively parting strands of hair for facilitating hairtreatments, the device including an annular body defining a finger hole,wherein the finger hole is dimensioned and adapted to removably secureto a tip of a human finger; and a strand arm extending from the annularbody in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis, wherein thestrand arm tapers as it extends to its distal end.

In another aspect of the present invention, the device worn on thefinger of a user for selectively parting strands of hair forfacilitating hair treatments, the device including an annular bodydefining a finger hole, wherein the finger hole is dimensioned andadapted to removably secure to a tip of a human finger, wherein theannular body extends between two opposing finger arms that define a voidtherebetween, and wherein the annular body is approximately one totwelve millimeters thick; and a strand arm extending from the annularbody in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis, wherein thestrand arm tapers as it extends to its rounded distal end, wherein thestrand arm extends approximately quarter cm to two and a half inchesbeyond the tip of the human finger removably secured for some purposesand up to five inches and beyond the tip of the human finger removablysecured for highlighting and other uses.

In another aspect of the present invention, the device facilitates hairtreatment process by first sliding the device onto the tip of theremovably secured finger so that the strand arm extends beyond said tip;and selectively engaging single strands of hair for creating a straightprecise part.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a device forselectively parting strands of hair during hair treatment processes andsingle cylinder extension application. The parting device may have anannular body dimensioned and adapted to removably receive and secure atip of a human wearer. A strand arm extends from the annular bodyparallel to its longitudinal axis, in certain embodiments an inch- andfour inches for highlighting. The strand arm tapers to a rounded distalend so that a user wearing the parting device on their fingertip canmanipulate and engage strands of hair with the strand arm during varioushair treatment processes requiring selectively parting single strands ofhair. The curved end on the strand arm is unique in that it helps graspthe hair, allowing for more precision and, thus, is more functional inthis process than a comb. Raised rounded ridges on the interior of thebody may be added as needed for a better secure fit to prevent thedevice from slipping. They may range from one to five mm in diameter andone to five mm in height extending from the inside surface body.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include aparting device 10. The parting device 10 may provide an annular body 11defining a finger hole 13 dimensioned and adapted to removably receiveand secure a portion of a human finger 18, such as a fingertip. The body11 may be a unitary or continuously construction that defines the fingerhole 13; alternatively, the body 11 may terminate in opposing body arms12 that face each other in a spaced-apart manner, providing a void 15therebetween, as illustrated in the Figures. The void 15 may enabletolerance for different sizes of finger portions 18 among differentusers.

A strand arm 14 may extend from the body 11 in a direction parallel to alongitudinal axis passing through a center of the finger hole 13. Thestrand arm 14 may taper down as it extends to its distal end 17. Thedistal end 17 may be rounded. The body 11 and so the strand arm 14 maybe approximately one to twelve mm thick. The strand arm 14 may extend,in certain embodiments, for approximately quarter cm to five inches;typically, one inch for single strand extensions, while four inches maybe for highlight applications. The parting device 10 may be made ofvarious plasticized material, or the like, such as aluminum, ceramics,wood, stainless steel, copper, sterling silver, heated acrylic, stone,brass, bronze, titanium, epoxy, silver, gold, metals, nickel free metal,nylon, lexan, copper PLA, silicon, glass, brass, polyvinyl chloride,sintered steel, frosted acrylic, iron, resin, transparent metal,precious stones, plaster, thermoplastic. The material may be capable ofresisting bending stresses experienced during the use contemplatedherein. The parting device 10 may be strong enough to withstand wear andtear but not so thick that it would be heavy or uncomfortable for theuser. It would have some give to it so that it can be somewhat flexiblein its use. Furthermore, the parting device 10 may feel smooth to thetouch and light to the finger.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Theparting device 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may slide theparting device 10 on their finger portion 18. The user may use thestrand arm 14 to manipulate and engage single strands of hair 16 forhair extensions applications, including but not limited to cylinderapplications. The finger or finger portion 18 may essentially functionslike a comb, especially a rat tail comb, so no comb is needed, and hairstrands 16 are sectioned off free of hassle. Thereby, the user may applythe hair extension cylinder as usual, following standard procedure.

During the first step of parting the hair into a single strand 16 thepresent invention would be used to part the hair without the use of thecomb. The present invention would stay on any finger of choicethroughout the application process. The finger of choice may be thethumb, pointer, middle, ring or pinky finger on the right or left handand more than one can be worn at once. The parting device 10 works bymaking the stylist finger essentially the comb, enabling the stylist tofocus on the detail of the delicate task of applying a small extensionthat requires weaving hair through a tiny cylinder tube, including usingthe parting device 10 to create a straight part to the scalp beforesecuring a top portion of the hair. The present invention simplifiesthis process.

Alternatively, the present invention may be used in other hairapplications such as dreads and corn rolls and locks, braiding andweaving, highlights, hair treatments, medicinal hair replacement surgery(sterile), animal removal of infestations, or treatments of human hairwith lice, infestations, and the like. Furthermore, the parting device10 may be used as a paring knife when sharpened.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: an annular body defining afinger hole, wherein the finger hole is dimensioned and adapted toremovably secure to a tip of any human finger; and a strand armextending from the annular body in a direction parallel to itslongitudinal axis, wherein the strand arm tapers as it extends to itsdistal end.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the strand arm extends forapproximately one quarter cm to two and a half inches.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the strand arm extends for approximately two and a halfto five inches.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the annular bodyextends between two opposing finger arms that define a voidtherebetween.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the annular body isapproximately one to twelve millimeters thick.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the strand arm extends beyond the tip of the human fingerremovably secured.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end isrounded.
 8. A device, comprising: an annular body defining a fingerhole, wherein the finger hole is dimensioned and adapted to removablysecure to a tip of a human finger, wherein the annular body extendsbetween two opposing finger arms that define a void therebetween, andwherein the annular body is approximately one to twelve millimetersthick; and a strand arm extending from the annular body in a directionparallel to its longitudinal axis, wherein the strand arm tapers as itextends to its rounded distal end, wherein the strand arm extends forapproximately a quarter cm to five inches and beyond the tip of thehuman finger removably secured.
 9. A method of facilitating hairtreatment process using the device of claim 1, comprising: sliding thedevice of claim 1 onto the tip of the removably secured finger so thatthe strand arm extends beyond said tip; and selectively engaging singlestrands of hair for creating a straight part.